The Guide To Safeguarding Your Child’s Health

There are so many things you have to think about as a new mum. Of course, half of the worries are hypotheticals that’ll never happen, but it’s hard to rationalise anything when your maternal instincts are so strong. You just want to do everything you can to guide this beautiful new life through the difficult maze that is the big, wide world. If you’re still struggling, however, to keep on top of everything then this guide to safeguarding your child’s health might just help you get a grip of what you should and shouldn’t be doing as a new mother.

Hygiene.

Hygiene definitely has to be at the forefront of your mind; both in terms of your baby and you. It’s a tough line to balance, of course, because you want to protect your child from diseases and infections but you also don’t want to bubble-wrap them and leave them with a weak immune system. The key is to be smart about what you expose your child too. They’re sensitive, but you want them to go strong. When they reach nursery age and other children are getting chickenpox, you’ll want your child to catch it; catching chickenpox as an adult is dangerous, so it’s better to build up an immunity whilst you’re young.

Of course, on a more basic level, ensure you’re keeping the house as hygienic as possible. Change their sheets more regularly than you change your own so as to stop them picking up germs and getting sick. Focus on dental hygiene from a young age too and start good habits. You might want to look into a good dentist for your little one so that they can form a good relationship with what is often a scary place for young kids. Flossing should certainly be a habit you teach your child from a young age to keep their mouth healthy as a whole.

A good night’s sleep is important for everyone but it’s particularly important to babies and young children. They’re still growing and developing, and sleep is an integral part of that process; whilst we rest, our bodies heal and our brains re-energize. Your child needs as much sleep as possible to keep their body healthy and ensure they’re waking up active and alert each morning. Prioritize their sleep above all else, even if you’re exhausted for the first few months.

Diet is a big part of safeguarding your child’s health. We’ve talked a lot about the ways in which you can ensure your child grows up to be as healthy as possible, but this is certainly one of the most important factors. The food we eat massively affects our bodies but it’s obviously far more important for a growing child than an adult. Variety is crucial. Vegetables, fruit, and healthy calories are all important. Focus on the right portion sizes, but this means avoiding under-feeding your child as well as avoiding over-feeding them. They still need enough to grow, so focus on giving them the right foods rather than simply cutting down on what they eat.

Shona Mackin is a mum to a little boy and massive Bernese Mountain Dog fur baby. In her previous (and current) life, she is the owner of social media agency socialface. As a serial entrepreneur, she aimed to design her businesses to do what she wanted, when she wanted… at least thats what she thought, until she found out her babies had a better plan. Thankfully her former former life as a dancer gave her oodles of flexibility and determination to roll with whatever each new day throws her way… sometimes… other days coffee helps in the morning and wine in the evening or a time out in a hot shower to block out the noise.